In Brief

Hey there, time traveller!This article was published 25/7/2013 (1232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alleged serial killer Lamb bypasses prelim hearing

ACCUSED serial killer Shawn Cameron Lamb made a surprise appearance in court Thursday, opting for trial in Queen's Bench for the deaths of Lorna Blacksmith and Carolyn Sinclair.

No date was set for trial but Lamb's lawyer hinted he might plead guilty.

When talking to reporters, Martin Glazer said the move eliminates the need for witnesses to testify at a preliminary hearing and added they might not have to testify at the trial.

Lamb is charged with three counts of second-degree murder.

Glazer said Lamb has been custody for 14 months since his arrest in June 2012, adding it was time to get the case against his client moving.

"I have made a procedural move that will expedite Shawn Lamb's day in court," Glazer said in a brief statement to reporters following court.

"It's in Shawn Lamb's best interests and in the interest of justice."

Lamb appeared briefly in court, wearing a grey T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair long and straggly, and sporting a day's growth of facial hair.

Lamb told the court he agreed with the motions to move the murder cases directly to trial.

On the third murder, of Tanya Nepinak, Glazer said that charge remains in provincial court, adjourned to Oct. 25 along with several other charges, including those for sexual assault.

Woman sticks with guilty pleas in vehicle fraud

A young woman, who last week was on the verge of withdrawing guilty pleas to several counts of fraud, told court Thursday she no longer wants a trial.

Kaela Leigh Perry, 27, re-affirmed the guilty pleas she made July 17 to six counts of fraud and conspiracy.

Justice Chris Martin gave Perry a week to review her decision.

Perry was one of dozens arrested in a massive investigation into what was described as the largest vehicle-insurance fraud scheme in the province's history.

Between 2005 and 2009, high-end luxury cars were brought in from Ontario, where their odometers would be rolled back and then sales arranged to individuals who participated in staging phony accidents and thefts.

Manitoba Public Insurance claimed to have lost more than $800,000 to the scheme.

Perry's sentencing is expected to take place sometime in the fall.

She will be expected to make restitution for her involvement in the offences, about $92,000.